We see some of the worst cases on TV. Boxes, papers and clothes stacked to the ceiling and lack of access to the kitchen and bathroom.
In Victoria, there are currently 25 cases of hoarding, and a city run hotline has seen a rise in phone-calls this year.
Speaking on CFAX with Terry Moore, Fire Inspector, Megan Sabel says they often depend on the community to alert them to a potential problem.
"It's making that first step of making contact with that individual and not knowing really their name and their phone number, just beyond having a door to go to. So, the person was a bit taken aback of why I was there and really didn't want me to even come in."
In 2012, the Hoarding Education Action Team (HEAT) was formed to provide a support network for those suffering the mental condition. HEAT is hosted by the Victoria Fire Department.